File-case



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REUBEN L. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FILE-CASE.

SPECI1`I(.'}AC|.I()N forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,926, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed August 22, 1892. Serial No. 443,690. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN L. BROWN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in File-Cases; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved method or process of' making paper or straw board file cases, of the type known as pigeon hole boxes, and other similar receptacles, as for instance, file cases or cases therefor having inf clined or curved open ends.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction which shall secure economy of time and labor in the manufacture of such articles.

. The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims.

I-Ieretofore file cases of this type have been :made by first cutting out a blank of proper shape to make a file case of desired size, folding or bending said blank into tubular form and securing an end wall therein. In case caps or covers are desired, they are similarly made from separate pieces ofl material. This method involves the cutting of the material. of which the le cases are made into irregularly shaped blanks and necessitates a sepa-` rate operation of folding and the insertion of the end piece for each box or le case and for each cap 0r cover. Flanges for guiding and supporting the cover in position have been formed by attaching separate pieces of material to the sides of the file case so as to project and form the Iianges desired.

In carrying out my invention a tube is made of suicient length to form two open-ended file cases or one iile case and its cover, and end walls are then secured in said tube by means of stay-strips or otherwise and thereafter the tube is cut into two parts so as to leave the severed ends of any desired shape. The guide iianges are formed by making a secondtube of shape and size to fit closely within the file case proper and of such length that the end margins of the side walls thereof will project beyond the sides of the file case and in such manner as to form guidesof a shape and size desired.

In the accompanying drawings a series of file cases and blanks is shown which fully illustrate the features of manufacture comprising the invention.

Figures l and 2 are perspective views of a tile case having a hinged end or cover., Fig. 3 is a `perspective view of a blank or tube adapted to form such a file case. Fig.. 4 is a perspective'view of the same boX, the end having been cut oft' `to form a cap or cover therefor. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blank for forming the guide flanges. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the file case shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of said file case. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a blank adapted to form two open-ended file cases; end walls having been inserted therein prior to dividing it. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an open-ended iile formed by dividing the blank shown in Fig. 8 on the dotted line shown in that figure.

To first describe the method of making the form of file case shown in Figs. 1 and 2: This box consists of the file case proper, A, and a cap or cover, A. Instead of being made separately and of different pieces of material in the manner heretofore common, a single tube, B, similar to that shown in Fig. 3, is made from one piece of material, and head ,or end walls B', B', are then inserted into the ends of said tube, being secured therein by stay strips, h b, or in any other approved way. Preferably also, the corners of the blank will be strengthened or reinforced by stay-strips, b secured thereto in a familiar manner. The blank thus formed is then cut or divided obliquely as indicated by the dotted line shown in said Fig. 3, thus forming the body A of a file case and of a cover A therefor (Fig. 4). Said cover is thereafter hinged to the file case in any approved manner. In the form of file case above referred to guide flanges, C, are present for holding in place the cover when closed. These guide flanges C are formed by the projecting margins of the side walls of a tube C, of such size that it may be inserted within the body A of the ile case.

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One end of said tube C is cut so that its side walls will project beyond its top and bottom walls, and the side walls are made of such length that when the tube is inserted Within the file case A the'projecting ends of the side walls will extend beyond the sides of said file case to form the flanges c e which may be made of any desired form by suitably shap- 1ng the projecting ends of the side walls at the time of cutting the same. The tube C will commonly be secured within the body of the tile by adhesive substance applied to one of the parts before the tube is slipped 1nt0 the body of the file.

The file case blanks or bodies made as set forth may be finished in any desired manner; as shown they are covered with paper or cloth. Card holders are secured to the lfront or exposed end thereof, provided with an opening, a, for exposing a label, and a ring or handle a is secured to the front thereof in the usual manner.

The modied form of the tile case shownin F1g. 7 is constructed in all respects in the same manuel' as that just described.` It comprises a similar file case A; hinged cover A; and an internal tube, C, having projecting side walls forming guide flanges, c c. In this form of the file case however, the tube or blank is cut across the upper edge of theV front end and an end flap, AA2, is formed by cutting out the end wall of the blank which is below the cover and hinging the saine to the bottom of said case; said flap being held 1n its closed position by means of the hinged cap which is adapted to project below and engage the upper edge of a flange or ledge a2 formed on thesaid end piece by securing an additional thickness or layer of straw-board to the inner surface of the flap, which addi-V tional thickness or layer extends beyond or above the end or free edge of the flap in the manner shown. Said cap will retain the end piece in position to close the end of the file case and when the cap is raised the end piece will drop down so as to expose the papers contained in said case. By this improved method of construction I am enabled to so cut the blank that the joint between the cap and the file case proper at the side of the box will be curved, as seen in Fig. 7, or of any other desired shape, while leaving the guide flanges c straight or of any other desired or preferred shape, thereby giving an ornamental finish to the file case.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the method of constructing the ordinary open ended form of file case. The first step in the construct-ion of such cases according to my improved method is the formation of .a tube or blank, D, from a single piece of suitable material, usually straw-board; the blank being made of proper length to form two tile cases. End walls or heads D are then inserted in the open ends of the blanks and secured by stay-strips, d, other stay-strips, d', being preferably applied to the corners of the tube to strengthen and render more sti the joints thereof. The closed tube thus formed is then divided along the dotted line shown in the drawings, so as to form the bodies of two cases of the same size and shape;A the form shown in Fig. 9 being a common one. These cases have no covers and no guide flanges.l

VIt is obvious from the foregoing description that the principle involved in the manufacture of these file cases according to my improved method is the same whether a covered or an openfended file case is constructed.

l. The herein described method of making file cases, consisting in forming an open ended tube of proper length to form two file cases or a file case and its cover, then securing heads or end walls in both ends of said tube,'

and thereafter dividing said tube so as to form a file case and its cover or two file cases,sub stantially as described.

2, The herein described method of making file cases, consisting in forming an open ended tube of proper length to form a tile case and its cover, then securing heads or end walls in both ends of said tube, then severing a part of the, closed blank thus formed to constitute a cover, and thereafter inserting into said file case a closely fitting tube the side walls of which project beyond the sides of the le case and form the flanges thereon, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN L. BROWN.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, G. W. H1GG1Ns,Jr.

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